Soap feeder



G. C. SCHMIDT Oct. 6, 1964 SOAP FEEDER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1961 INVENT OR GEORGE C. ScHM/or G. C; SCHMIDT Oct. 6, 1964 SOAP FEEDER Filed April 10. 1961 650/265 C. ScHM/DT BY .fi/

ATTORNEU Oct. 6, 1964 G. c. scHMlDT 3,151337 i soAP FEEDER med April 1o, 1961 s smeta-sheet s INVENT OR EoRaE C. &HM/D T ATTORNEY) United States Patent O 3,151,737 SOA? FEEDER George Charles Schmidt, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Chemical Laboratory, Pittsburgh, Pa., a firrn Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,914 4 Claims. (Ci. 206-) This invention relates to improvements in devices for feeding a soap solution in regulated and nniform quantities to the water of a dishwashjng machine.

U.S. Patent 2,449513 shows a soap feeder of the general type of the present invention, but there are several difliculties in connection with its operation which have been solved in the present forms of invention, such as the ability of an operator to easily adjust the valve positions; the Prevention of clogging of the breather tube; the ability of the wash water solution to be efliciently regulated under conditions where there is a heavy wash solution or excess wash pressure, and furthermore means is provided so the wash water within the feeder is permitted to run off at a location which will enable just that degree of up pressure within the feeder required to enable the wash water to pass through the valve mechanisms into the chemical compound for eflicient dissolution.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and Wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional elevation taken through one form of the invention, in the plane of the line 1-1 shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the main container of the feeder showing certain regulating valve devices.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the valves or regulating devices.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a second form of invention, showing details thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the form of invention shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a tray of improved design adapted for use with the feeder.

FIGURE 7 is a further showing of the type of valve used with the feeder of the container.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a perforated screen disc used in the regulator for supporting powdered soap or other cleaner.

FIGURE 9 is a bottom plan view of the main container showing the valve arrangement thereof.

Two forms of the invention have been shown, at X in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and at Y in FIGURES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The forms of regulators or feeders X and Y preferably comprses containers B, B' respectively, each having a closure C. In the form of invention X, the container B is adapted to rest in a tray D, and in the form of invention Y, shown in FIGURES 4 to 9, the tray is of the type shown at D'. The bottoms of the containers B and B' are each provided With a plurality of valve structures or regulating devices E.

The containers B and B' may be formed of any improved material, such as aluminurn, stainless steel, plastic, etc. They are provided respectively with bottom walls 10 and 10' and preferably cylindrical side Walls 11 having an outwardly fiared bead at the top thereof, as shown at 12. The closure C is of a loose fitting type including a top wall 14 and a skrt flange 15 rolled outwardly at 15'. The bottom walls 10 and 10' are provided With an ar- Patent-ed Get. 6, 1964 rangement of bolt openings 16 so the valve devices E may be attached for rotation thereto by means of bolt mechanisms.

The valves E each include a disc or wall portion 18 having a segmental flange 17 peripherally surrounding the same, interrupted to provide an entrance Way 17' through Which the solution may fioW and into which the operator may insert a finger or thumb for the purpose of easy turning adjustment and manipulation of the valve E. Each disc 18 is provided with a central opening 20 adapted to receive a central bolt 23 with the head end of the bolt adapted to lie at the bottom of the tray 18; an upwardly urging spring type washer 21 being provided against which the head rests; the screw threaded end of the bolt extending through the openings 16 and 20 and at the inside of walls 10 and 10' receiving a nut 23% This positions the disc or Wall 18 of the valve E in frictional engagement against the bottom surface of the wall 10, as shown in both forms of the invention, With the flange 17 extending downwardly. The frictional contact prevents accidental displacement of the valve when set in position.

For each valve member E, there is provided an opening 25, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2 of the drawings and shown in full lines in FIGURE 9 of the drawings, adapted to align with any one of a plurality of graduated openings 24 in each valve member E. The openings 24 are of varying sizes in order to regulate the quantity of liquid which may enter the container B or B'. Of course the openings 25 are larger than any of the openings 24.

The containers B and B' are adapted to receive a quantity of powdered or comminuted soap and such will rest within the container upon the screens F or F'. These screens are preferably of stamped metal, each including a downwardly turned skirt portion which is perforated and has a rolled edge 31 adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the bottoms 10 or 10'. The body portions of the screens are spaced from the inside surfaces of the bottorns of the container B and B' to provide an air space which is of uniform depth except that the central portion 23 where the same is raised and supports a breather tube. The breather tubes and 35' are crimped at the portion 34 centrally of the screen and each provides a passageway 37 therethrough which opens at the top of the breather tube just below the bottom of the lid or closure C and at its bottom opens into the space 33 below the screen body to supply breather action into said space.

The soap or cleaner rests upon the top of the screen F and extends to a level below the top of the tube.

In the form of screen F, the breather tube 35 has its passageway 37 fully opened at the top thereof. It has been found, however, that under such circumstances, careless employees while filling the container with soap will cause clogging of the passageway 37. To obviate this, I have flattened the tube 35a of the form of invention Y, at 38, to provide a narrow slot 39 which Will prevent clogging of the passageway 37 when filling the container.

The tray D is an important part of the regulator, since it nsures the successful entrance of Water to the lower masses of the soap within the regulator to enable a uniform feed of the diffused soap into the wash Water. Tray D consists of a bottom wall 50, as shown in the form of invention X having a central raised portion 51 and a surrounding annular portion provided with depressed feet 54 adapted to rest upon some supporting surface for holding the bottom Wall spaced therefrom. Above the horizontal plane of the portion 51 is a raised or elevated ledge 55 upon a cylindrical wall 55a which receives thereon the container B as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. When restng on this ledge 55, the bottom wall of the container and its valve structure will be spaced slightly s) from the upper surfaces of the bottom wall 50 of the tray. The latter above the ledges 55 is provided with an annular skirt or wall 55b fianged outwardly at 56 at the top thereof. When the container rests Within the tray, the wall 55b prevents it from sliding off the tray D. The outer surface of the wall 11 is spaced from the interior surface of the wall 55b as shown at 60 in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. In this space, the spray water from the Washing machine enters and seeps into the bottom of the tray since the container rests only loosely upon the ledge 55 and sufficient water will pass thereby into the bottom of the tray. Water from the tray seeps upwardly through the valve openings 24. The water, after it seeps through the valve openings 24 into the space 33, passes through the lower portion of the mass of soap or cleaner 40. In this respect, it is to be noted that the side skirt 30 is perforated so that immediately upon any water entering the space'33, diifusion will start. SOfflPy Water will pass from the soap Cleaner through the perforated screen F into the space 33 and also pass through the valve openings into the tray land exit therefrom at the central opening '65 of the form of invention shown at X or will drain over flange 56.'

In the form of nvention Y, the tray D' is substantially different from the structure of the tray D, inasmuch as it has a flatV bottom wall 70 and side walls 71 having an outwardly extending top flange 72. The valves E in the form ofrinvention Y may rest directly upon the inside surface of the wall70. The inner surface of the upstanding Wall 71 of the tray D' is spaced from the outer surface of the wall 11 of the container B, as shown at 605- in FIGURE 5. i This enables the splash water to enter the tray D' and pass upwardly' through the valves into the soap for dissolving the same in the manner above described.

A feature of the tray D' consists of the provision of in- Wardly extending ribs 74f(see FIGURE 6) upon the inside surfaces of the wall 71 to insure that thewrallV 11 of the container will be properly spaced therein to maintain clear passage spaces 603. Furthermore, it will be noted from FIGURE 6 that the top flange 72 of the tray is divided into a segmental portion ''/''2a which is at a differentlevel than the other segmental portion 72h; the latter thus providing a spout, so to speak, whichenables the wash water solution to run of the sides of the tray especially when there is a heavy wash solution or excess wash pressure. Also, an importantpfeature of the invention comprises elongated slots 75 in the wall structure 71 of the tray D', shown in FIGURE 6, preferably at the spout area 72. These slots 75 permit a runoff of the solution at this point in order to give just the right amount of up pressure required to have the wash water rise through the valve openings into the soap compound for uniform and proper dissolution. p

Various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made to the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the claims.

1. As an article of manufacture a tray adapted Vfor supporting soap feeders comprising a bottom wall and an upstanding vertical wall defining a chamber into which a soap feeder may be placed, the upstanding wall having as a portion thereof a laterally `disposed horizontal spout Which is at a lower level than the remaining upper portion of the upstanding wall, said tray below said spout be-. ing provided with a lateral liquid entrance and exit apel'- ture and the tray wallV being provided with inward projections at spaced intervals to insure that a soap feeder when located in the tray will be laterally spaced from the normal inner surface of the upstanding Wall of the tray.

2. As an article of manufacture a tray for soap feeders comprising a bottom wall having a vertical wall connected thereon defining a Chamber for receiving a soap feeder container, said vertical wall at the top thereof having a lateral outwardly extending horizontal flange at one level at one side of the tray and a second laterally outwardly extending horizontal segmental flange complementary to the first flange and at the opposite side of the tray and at a lower level than the first mentioned tray flange to define a spout, the vertical Wall immediately below said lower flange being provided with lateral port means to permit entrance and exit of a liquid.

3. In a soap feeder and regulator the combination of a container including a bottom wall and an unstanding cylindrical shaped wall, a closure for the container, valve means on the bottom .Wall of the container for the passage of soapy liquids therethrough, a perforated screen mounted in the container for supporting a body of soap or cleaner in the container at a level spaced from the bottom wall of the container, tubular means for breather action of air from the top of the container into said space, and a tray for supporting the container, said tray including a bottom Wall and an upstanding cylindrical shaped wall having laterally inwardly projecting means for supporting the container in the tray normally spaced from the inside surface of the upstanding tray wall, said tray upstanding wall at one side of the tray being provided with an outwardly extending horizontal flange, and at the opposite side at a lower level being provided with an outwardly extencling horizontal spout flange, the upstanding wall of the tray below said lower flange being provided withlateral port means therein opening to the space between the side wall 'of the container and the inner surface of the upstanding wall of the tray.

4. The soap feeder and regulator of claim 3 in which v the valve means on the bottom wall of the container comprises a plurality of inverted cup-shaped valve members rotatably mounted on the lower surface of the bottom wall of the container, the bottom wall of the container having a port facing each of said valve* members and the valves beingeach provided' with a plurality of size graduated ports for alignment with the respective ports of the bottom wall of the container, said cup-shaped valves each having a side Wall provided with a transverse passageway for finger insertion to adjust the valves and to act as a passageway for liquids. c

References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 658,923 Pifer Oct. 2, 659,373. Low Oct. 9, 1900 784,228 Richwood Mar. 7, 1904 1,389594 Moore Sept. 6, 1921 1,434,294 Lane Oct. 31, 1922 1,524,547 Glacobbe Jan. 27, 1925 1,791,203 Halsey Feb; .3, 1931 2,006,704 Van Muflling July 2, 1935 2,247,930 Turner July 1, 1941V 2,397,675 Luce Apr. 2, 1946 2,449,513 Schmidt Sept. 14, 1948 2,687,139 Noble et al. Aug. 24, 1954 2,820,580 Figge Ian. 21, 1958 2,944,700 Stevenson July 12, 1960 2,979,225 Notfsinger Apr. ll, 1961 

1. AS AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE A TRAY ADAPTED FOR SUPPORTING SOAP FEEDERS COMPRISING A BOTTOM WALL AND AN UPSTANDING VERTICAL WALL DEFINING A CHAMBER INTO WHICH A SOAP FEEDER MAY BE PLACED, THE UPSTANDING WALL HAVING AS A PORTION THEREOF A LATERALLY DISPOSED HORIZONTAL SPOUT WHICH IS AT A LOWER LEVEL THAN THE REMAINING UPPER PORTION OF THE UPSTANDING WALL, SAID TRAY BELOW SAID SPOUT BEING PROVIDED WITH A LATERAL LIQUID ENTRANCE AND EXIT APERTURE AND THE TRAY WALL BEING PROVIDED WITH INWARD PROJECTIONS AT SPACED INTERVALS TO INSURE THAT A SOAP FEEDER WHEN LOCATED IN THE TRAY WILL BE LATERALLY SPACED FROM THE NORMAL INNER SURFACE OF THE UPSTANDING WALL OF THE TRAY. 